We're well into optimal grilling season. I say optimal because I tend to grill year round. I've been known to have Hubs shovel a path of snow off the deck from the slider to the grill. But in this part of the country, there truly is a grilling season. There's nothing I love more at the end of a hot day than for us to grab a cold cocktail, throw dinner on the grill, and wind down. Grilling and Chilling.
For the most part, dinner prep is pretty easy, often just a matter of marinading the main course in the morning and sticking it in the fridge. Added bonuses are not heating the house by turning the oven on, and easy clean up, since Hubs cleans the grill.
Oh, and to make things even easier, I'll often prepare cold sides ahead of time and have them in the fridge. Check out my Apple Cider Chive Potato Salad, my Blueberry Bagel Salad, my Greek Pasta Salad, my Pasta Salad Bites, my Summer Orzo Salad, my SW Ranch Picnic Salad, my Vegetable Ranch Tortellini Salad, and/or my Smoky Slaw, for some make ahead chilled side dishes.
Because there are plenty of hot days still ahead, I thought I'd put together some of the grilling recipes I've developed over the years. 35 of them. They're pictured below in groupings, with the recipe links for you to click on just below the pictures:
Chicken, Chicken, Chicken
Marinted, grilled chicken meets caprese salad in this easy, flavorful dinner.
Mix up this simple 3 ingredient marinade in the morning, grill for about 20 minutes at night. Doesn't get much easier than that.
Whisk together this 5 ingredient marinade, refrigerate with the chicken, then just grill when you're ready. Couldn't be easier.
Inspired by the Monte Cristo sandwich, marinated chicken and ham are threaded onto skewers and grilled.
This teriyaki marinade with the added hint of orange is a crowd pleaser
Just 3 marinade ingredients add so much flavor to a grilled chicken meal.
Seafood
A warm weather lunch or dinner, Thai Shrimp Skewers is a marinated and skewered shrimp dish with red pepper and pineapple. A flavorful meal that grills up in minutes.
Grilled sea scallops are served over rotini, tossed in a light sauce of wine and broth with garlic and green onions.
A simple, light, flavorful dish. This glaze is everything!
A flavorful marinade and under 15 minutes on the grill is all you need for a quick healthy dinner.
Quick and simple, just marinate, skewer, and grill.
Salmon is marinated, grilled and served over broccoli slaw dressed with the same marinade.
Pork: chops, tenderloin, medallions, and riblets
Sliced pork tenderloin, marinated in a creamy sauce with a little bit of a kick, and grilled. Leftovers make great sandwiches, too!
Bold flavors are the key to these marinated, grilled pork tenderloin medallions. Slice and marinate in the morning, grill for about 15 minutes at dinner time.
Pork tenderloin is sliced, refrigerated in a flavorful marinade, and grilled.
This sauce is so simple, and the grilled pineapple and red pepper are the perfect addition.
Pork tenderloin, marinated in a tomato and wine sauce, then grilled.
Marinated in and basted with a blackberry barbecue sauce, these pork medallions grill up in minutes for a delicious summer meal.
These riblets take some time but they are SO worth it. They start with a dry rub, are baked in the sauce, then grilled when ready.
Wrapping the tenderloin tightly with the dry rub imparts so much flavor. Refrigerate, then grill.
Here's the Beef
Packed with flavor, but another easy recipe. Marinate for up to 36 hours in the fridge, then grll in under 20 minutes, rest adn slice. Great for cookouts and parties too!
Grilling adds so much flavor to your pizza. And they're fun to make!
Thin slices of beef are stuffed with vetetables, rolled and grilled. Easy enough for everyday, fancy enough for company.
This flank steak is bursting with flavor. Marinate up to 48 hours, grill, and slice. A cookout favorite.
Sandwiches
Lower in fat, bursting with fresh flavors. A great addition to any cookout.
Grilled eggplant is topped with cheese and vegetables, and served on a toasted Ciabatta roll.
You won't miss the meat in this hearty vegetable version of a burger.
Burgers and pizza, a perfect match.
Glazed kielbasa and vegetables are skewered and grilled. Tastes just as good over rice or mashed potatoes as it does in a sandwich.
Sides, Sauce and Seasoning
Zucchini proves that grilling isn't just for the main dish. And this side dish comes together in minutes.
Only 4 ingredients go into this side dish. Chop, mix, and grill for a delicious main dish accompaniment.
Cabbage is drizzled with a marinade and grilled. Cabbage never tasted so good!
A fun interpretation of Jalapeno Poppers that only takes a few minutes to cook on the grill. Perfect for an appetizer or side dish.
This blend can be used as a dry rub on pork or fish, Mix it with vegetable oil to marinate chicken, or add to soups and stews.
A bit of tang, a bit of a bite, a delicious enhancement to your grilled steak
Happy grilling. And chilling.
Love me some grilled food. Our grilling season is long and we did burgers yesterday. Yes, I wish I could be veg but....sigh.
ReplyDeleteOur grilling season doesn't last as long, but I do grill in the winter too.
DeletePerhaps we should celebrate another rainy day here with grilling. Now you have me craving it.
ReplyDeleteNot much fun to grill in the rain, but the rewards are delicious.
DeleteSo many great recipes! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI hope you give some a try.
DeleteWe haven't had a barbecue grill since we moved to the condo (as regulations don't allow for any type of heat source on a second-story wood deck), but I can definitely see some of your side dishes showing up on the table!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds great.
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